Page 19 of Thanksgiving Daddy's Girl
My dad turns and pulls me to my feet then hugs me tighter than he’s ever hugged me before. I melt into him and feel the tears of joy slipping down my face.
“I’m happy for you, honey. So damn happy,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “And I know your mom is too. You got a good one there.”
“I did,” I reply. “And I’ve got the best parents in the world too.”
My father cups my face and stares into my eyes. “And I’ve got the best kid a parent could have ever asked for. I love you, pumpkin.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
We embrace and I feel like my heart has gotten so big, it might actually explode in my chest. I’m happy for my dad. Nobody deserves love and to be loved as much as him. And I’m happy for me. For taking a chance and finding the greatest love I could have ever wanted. Without the spirit of adventure and the determination my parents gave me, I might not have.
But I could hear my mom’s voice urging me on. Telling me to chase what I wanted and make it my own. And that’s what I did. And now I have more than I could have ever hoped for. The man of my dreams and soon, the career I’ve always wanted. My life is a fairy tale—one I never expected to have, but one I will never let go.
And one I will never not be thankful for. If that’s not something truly remarkable for this Thanksgiving day, I don’t know what is.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
MYLES
Three Years Later
“Did your da and Alyssa get off all right?” I ask.
She nods. “They did indeed.”
“Where are they off to this time?”
“Costa Rica,” she replies. “My dad is bound and determined to learn how to surf.”
I laugh. “Good for him. I’m happy for the old dog.”
“I am too.”
She sinks down onto the couch beside me and lays her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. Together, we sit in silence for a few minutes, watching the television.
“What are you watching?” she finally asks.
“A documentary on the animals of the Serengeti.”
“And why are you watching a documentary about the animals of the Serengeti?”
I turn to her and smile. “I thought it might be fun for you and me to take a little safari down there and enjoy some of the natural beauty of the world.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It’ll be amazing.”
“And what about my clients?”
“You work so hard, you deserve a vacation now and then.”
“I do, don’t I?”
“Yes, you do,” I tell her. “You don’t want to fall into the same trap your dad did.”
“No. I most definitely do not.”
We share a laugh together, but I get the feeling there’s something more on her mind. Something she’s not saying. Maeve has built a thriving practice and is one of the most sought-after child psychologists in California. She loves her work. She’s doing a lot of good for a lot of people. And the last thing I want to do is take her away from it.
